First grade teacher Kaitlin Roig didn’t think she and her students were going to survive.

When the gunfire started at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn. Friday morning, Roig rushed her 15 children into the class bathroom to hide. Her classroom had large windows, and she knew they needed to get somewhere safer.

“I just knew we had to get in there, I was just telling them it’s going to be all OK, you’re going to be all right,” Roig told ABC News.More

Here’s more evidence that government “cures” are inevitably worse than the “diseases” they seek to wipe out. Buried in the trillion-dollar stimulus law of 2009 was an electronic medical records “incentive” program. Like most of President Obama’s health care rules, this top-down electronic record-sharing scheme is a big fat bust.

Oversight is lax. Cronyism is rife. The job-killing and privacy-undermining consequences have only just begun.

The program was originally sold as a cost-saving measure. In theory, modernizing record-collection is a good idea, and many private health care providers have already made the change. But as with many government “incentive” programs, the EMR bribe is a tax-subsidized, one-size-fits-all mandate. This one pressures health care professionals and hospitals across the country into radically federalizing their patient data and opening up medical information to untold abuse. Penalties kick in for any provider that hasn’t switched over by 2014.More

It should come as no surprise that the rate of mass shootings at schools and in other public places is increasing. The surge has nothing to do with guns, which have been widely available in the U.S. for years. Gun control laws have been increasing. Instead, there is a direct correlation between the increase in violence and the gradual degradation of morals, ethics and parenting. We are cultivating mental illness in our society.More

Michigan has now become the 24th state to give workers the right to work without having to join a union. The event provoked more than vigorous debate. State police had to be on duty to guarantee the safety and the ability of Michigan legislators to actually go vote on the measure.

So what is the controversy all about? I agree with folks on the left about the real issue. It's not about right to work. It's about unions themselves. Why do we have them? Why do we need them? What public purpose do they serve?

There's no mystery here. A union is an attempt to monopolize the supply of labor to an employer or group of employers. Like all monopolies, unions try to restrict supply and get a price (in this case a wage) above the free market level.More

No, that isn’t a sarcastic headline. After being lambasted by readers’ comments on his recently opened eatery, a Washington, D.C., restaurateur did what some of his foodie kin could not — issued a restrained, thoughtful and apologetic response.Earlier this week, the D.C. blogPoPville.com simply asked readerswhat they thought of a restaurant that opened in the city’s Columbia Heights neighborhood in October. Some of the feedback was less than kind, much of it focusing on poor service:

“Mediocre to poor food and some of the worst service I’ve seen anywhere.”“Over-priced. Bland food. Slow service.”“I’ve been twice. The first time the service was abysmal. Second time service was terrific.”

As you know, America is always the first country to send aid to other countries (Japan, India, Mexico,Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, etc.) when they are in trouble.

It is highly appropriate that we Americans, must now send our "THANKS" to all those countries that reciprocated our help with their disasters, misgivings, social turmoil, & poverty when they returned to the USA monetary and physical help after Hurricane Sandy 2012 ravaged our East Coast leaving behind many dead people, the massive destruction, the countless homelessness and pure disaster in the east.We have listed all the Countries and World Organizations below that are giving us their gracious assistance.

Please assist is in thanking these entities by passing on this email so people all over America can join in and THANK our many neighbors, to whom this nation has invested BILLIONS and BILLIONS!!!!

Can you guess who is on the list?

That right - the first country to respond was.....................NOBODY !! - NOT ONE - NADA - NILL - NON - NUN - NYEMaybe now Americans will realize that charity should begin at home.

With millions of our own country people in need and in poverty, let's save our money and spend it at home instead of sending it to Egypt, Libya, Pakistan, etc........

Staten Island and parts of New Jersey would gladly thank America if we spent the billions of dollars there that originally came from my pocket and yours......

A lot changed in the auto industry this year. Cadillac suddenly became a relevant brand again, and now Ford is trying to do the same with Lincoln.Fuel efficiency continued to be the big theme. Prius sales skyrocketed, and Chevy's Volt became the most loved and hated car of the year.

Even Ferrari and Land Rover looked to boost their cars' mile per gallon figures.

From the Porsche that can drive more than 700 miles on a single tank to the electric Tesla that can compete with any vehicle on the market, these 17 innovative cars may not be the best on the road, but they are the ones that are changing the game.

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: Yes, the Transportation Security Administration needs to do its job and make sure nothing dangerous is getting through security and onto airplanes. But detaining a wheelchair-bound 12-year-old girl who’s ill with a genetic bone disorder for an hour because she tested positive for bomb residue? That seems like the kind of situation that could’ve been cleared up a lot quicker than it was.

Federal judges are suing the government for millions of dollars in back pay. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit has ordered Congress to pay six judges the pay raises they were promised years ago but were never given. Now the Federal Judges Association is pushing for class-action status for more than 1,000 federal judges. The controversy stems from a 23-year-old law that gave judges automatic cost-of-living increases. The plaintiffs said that means federal judges deserve the same COLAs awarded to other feds but Congress has denied them those increases six times since passing the law.

I purchased one of those Delmarva Daily Deal coupons a while back. It was for auto detailing, a $60 value that I paid $30 for. I have tried many times to make an appt. to have my car detailed but each time it is progressively worse to the point now that no one answers. (My very first call was, at the time, just very odd that he had no time in the month that I wanted the appointment giving all sorts of excuses including his going on vacation. Then it progressed to 'I'll call you back" and now he doesn't answer at all. I recently managed to get him to answer when I called from a different phone number but he gave me the same I'll call you back line. This is a "we come to you" business, not a brick and morter shop.

Should I just throw in the towel and cut my losses for this $30 ripoff?

Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officials resisted the enactment of what amounts to an unprecedented domestic surveillance dragnet, but in the end the overarching desire to combat terrorism won out over the privacy of U.S. citizens.

Angwin details how Mary Ellen Callahan, chief privacy officer of the DHS, argued to the White House that the NCTC new authority would constitute a "sea change" because, whenever citizens interact with the government, the first question asked is now: "Are they a terrorist?"

"You know what they want? They want obedient workers. Obedient workers, people who are just smart enough to run the machines and do the paperwork. And just dumb enough to passively accept all these increasingly sh--ty jobs with the lower pay, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, the end of overtime and vanishing pension that disappears the minute you go to collect it, and now they're coming for your Social Security money. They want your retirement money. They want it back so they can give it to their criminal friends on Wall Street, and you know something? They'll get it. They'll get it all from you sooner or later cause they own this f--king place! It's a big club, and you ain't in it! You, and I, are not in the big club." – George Carlin

Although George Carlin's often-crude language can upset some, given his understanding of the world we live in the "shock" value is necessary to get his point across, that a tiny elite intends to control and manage the world like a global plantation and we are their slaves. His curse words cannot begin to describe the intensity of the anger and outrage you should feel at what they have done and will do to you, your family and future generations around the world if their one-world plans are successful.

I wish to make two important points. First, all major media outlets are by necessity and survival part of the Controlled Media Matrix. Otherwise, they would not continue to exist. Second, there are historical reasons why major media concerns and governments outside the direct control of the Anglo-American establishment act in one accord, with only minor differences based on their own governments and media markets.

A special grand jury has recommended bringing a felony indictment against a former high-ranking Norfolk Community Services Board administrator over her conduct involving a 12-year no-show worker.

The panel found former Director of Administration Brenda Wise "knowingly failed to pursue investigation and other processes" for more than 10 years that would have resolved the employment of Jill McGlone, according to a report filed Tuesday with the Norfolk Circuit Court. The Pilot obtained a copy of the document Thursday.

It focuses largely on three former CSB employees - McGlone, Wise and former Executive Director George Pratt - and their roles in McGlone collecting $320,000 as a nonworking employee. The panel described the controversy as a debacle and said, "The initial failure of George Pratt and Brenda Wise to deal decisively with Jill McGlone lies at the heart."

The panel did not discover why the agency continued to pay McGlone. That is still a mystery.

“I hope that real love and truth are stronger in the end than any evil or misfortune in the world.”― Charles Dickens

“Have a heart that never hardens, and a temper that never tires, and a touch that never hurts.”― Charles Dickens

“Never close your lips to those whom you have already opened your heart.”― Charles Dickens

“It is a fair, even-handed, noble adjustment of things, that while there is infection in disease and sorrow, there is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour.”― Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

“Heaven knows we need never be ashamed of our tears, for they are rain upon the blinding dust of earth, overlying our hard hearts. I was better after I had cried, than before–more sorry, more aware of my own ingratitude, more gentle.”― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

“Suffering has been stronger than all other teaching, and has taught me to understand what your heart used to be. I have been bent and broken, but – I hope – into a better shape.”― Charles Dickens, Great Expectations

“No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another.”― Charles Dickens

I was in Newport Beach, California... and I saw a bumper sticker on a parked car that read, "I miss Chicago."So I broke the window, stole the radio, shot out two of the tires and left a note that read, "I hope this helps!"

Over the years I have seen parts of the Hindenburg but nothing like this one.

These photographs are truly amazing. Look at each one carefully. The aerial shots are near perfect.

The dock side service. The fellow in front wearing the light uniform has the ultimate look and composure of a committed Nazi. And...this is 1937. We were all suffering from a critical case of intellectual torpor.

Be sure to click on the link in photo 22 to see the ‘newsreel’ film of the crash. There is a movie news short .GO HERE

“Today is a great day for Maryland’s racing industry. When my office helped broker a deal in 2010 that would temporarily sustain the industry, I was confident that all the parties would continue to work hard to reach an agreement that would preserve Maryland’s racing heritage and industry,” said Governor O’Malley. “I applaud the incredible work of all the parties in reaching a deal that retains racing industry jobs and preserves the future of racing in Maryland for years to come.”

The 2013 racing season will feature 146 days of live racing days at the major Maryland tracks, the same number as in 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Maryland Jockey Club will guarantee a minimum of 100 days a year for the balance of the agreement. There are provisions in the contract for the horsemen to race additional days through a revenue-sharing program.

The deal also calls for Pimlico and Laurel Park to remain open for year-round racing, training and stabling for the balance of the contract. Maryland Jockey Club president Tom Chuckas indicated Pimlico and Laurel would maintain a minimum of 1,900 stalls.

“I am very pleased with the agreement,” said Stronach Group chairman Frank Stronach, who owns Pimlico and Laurel. “This shows our commitment to Maryland racing and the long-term future of the industry. It is our vision to encourage people to invest in Maryland racing.”

“We created a plan that benefits everyone and develops a sustainable model for the future,” said Tom Chuckas, president of the Maryland Jockey Club. “I would like to thank Governor Martin O’Malley for his continued support of the industry. We appreciate his involvement two years ago which set-up the framework for this deal. We appreciate Maryland Racing Commissioners John McDaniel and Bruce Quade for their commitment as well as the leadership from the MTHA and MBHA for working with us to make this happen.”

“This is an historic moment for the Maryland racing community and the dawn of a new era,” said MTHA General Counsel Alan Foreman. “The years of uncertainty and strife are over. The racing industry owes a debt of gratitude to Tom Chuckas, Mike Rogers, Richard Hoffberger, Dale Capuano, Wayne Wright, Tom Bowman, Bruce Quade and John McDaniel for their dedication and hard work over the past 11 months to bring this to fruition. Most importantly, I want to thank Frank Stronach for his commitment to the future of Maryland racing and his willingness to work with us to find constructive solutions to our complicated issues. Since he assumed ownership of the Maryland tracks, Frank has sought a business model that would allow him to profit here while preserving and enhancing Maryland's historic racing industry. In partnership with him, we can now achieve that goal.”

“It was an honor to be involved in this historic accomplishment,” said MHBA president Tom Bowman. “A special acknowledgement needs to be given to the Maryland Racing Commission for providing both the impetus and guidance to see this process completed. Hats off to everyone involved.”“For our loyal horsemen and the thousands of workers throughout the state who have supported Maryland racing during the difficult past decade, we will now have long-term stability, year-round racing and stabling, an attractive purse structure, promise for the breeding industry and a strong foundation to restore Maryland racing to its pre-eminence in North American racing,” added Foreman. “For those who left Maryland for greener pastures, I think you will find that Maryland will soon become the centerpiece of racing in the Mid-Atlantic.”

Chuckas said the deal “allows the Maryland Jockey Club to invest in capital improvements at both facilities and we plan on submitting a plan to the Maryland Racing Commission and Maryland Department of Budget and Management in February.”The parties will ask the Maryland Racing Commission to approve the 2013 racing dates at their monthly meeting on Tuesday, December 18th. The meeting begins at 12:30 p.m. in Laurel Park's Ruffian room.

Less than 48 hours after the Connecticut school shooting at the Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, CT, which took place on Dec. 14, the Westboro Baptist Church is already making plans to picket. The Westboro Baptist Church is known for picketing and protesting at funerals across the country.

“Westboro will picket Sandy Hook Elementary School to sing praise to God for the glory of his work in executing his judgment,” Shirley Phelps-Roper tweeted on Dec. 15.

“They need to come back to Oklahoma,” Bryan Weathers, from Moore, said. “We know how to take care of them here.”More